Was one of your goal this year to increase your customer base? Here are 7 tried-and-true tips to help you attract more customers.

1. Offer new customers discounts and promotions

Consumers today are still looking for value and deals. Lure them into your business by offering introductory discounts, or have specials such as buy 2-get-1-for half-price or free gift wrapping for the first three purchases. Bargains like these can attract new customers who have been considering doing business with you but needed an incentive to actually change their shopping habits. Then track what they buy and which offers they redeemed so you can better target them with future marketing messages that will cement their loyalty.

2. Ask for referrals

Once you gain a customer’s loyalty, put that to work for you by asking them for referrals. Current customers are one of the best sources of new customers. But you can’t be passive and wait for your them to bring colleagues, friends, and family to your business. Instead, take control and create a systemised approach to actively solicit referrals from your satisfied customers.

3. Recontact old customers

Go back to your lapsed customers contact list and market to former customers who haven’t done business with you for a while. Create a regular schedule to do this (say quarterly) and select customers you haven’t seen in six months. Reach out to them via email, direct mail, text, or phone with a “We miss you" message, offering some type of deal or promotion if they’ll come back.

4. Partner with complementary businesses

Teaming up with businesses that have a similar customer base, but aren’t directly competitive, and then strategising how you can market to one another’s customers to drive new business is a smart way to attract new customers while not spending a fortune. For instance, if you sell baby products, working with a business that sells maternity clothes would be a great partnership.

5. Update your social and promotion

Online search is the primary way both consumers and B2B buyers find new businesses. That means your social media and local promotion must do the heavy lifting so customers can find you. Review your search engine marketing and localised promotion tactics and techniques, including ensuring your social media contents are attractive and your brand has a strong local presence.

6. Participate in community events

Surveys show most people like to support local, independent businesses. Raise your profile in your community by participating in charity events and organisations. Sponsor a local fun run, organize a holiday “toys for kids” drive, or supply a Little League team in your city with equipment. All this raises your profile, which helps attract new customers.

7. Bring a friend

This idea is similar to referrals but requires customer participation. Offer “bring a friend” deals to get your loyal customers to introduce their friends and colleagues to your business. For instance, a restaurant could offer a “buy one entrée, get a second for free” special to attract more customers.

Think of these strategies as a starter list. Add your own ideas. The key is to get started now so that when next year rolls around, you’re already selling to an expanded customer base. 

We at LUMOS help local business owners and marketers engage and attract new customers at speed and scale. If you have a tight budget and are unsure how to get everyone in your local community to see your brand, we are here to help!